Free Upgrades for Older Versions of GTA 5 Begin June 18

If you’ve been grinding away on your PS4 or Xbox One version of Grand Theft Auto V and are frustrated at the thought of shelling out again for a current-gen upgrade on your PS5 or Xbox Series console, there’s good news: starting tomorrow, June 18, Rockstar is making it permanently free to upgrade your older copy to the latest version for modern consoles. This also applies to PC players with the Legacy edition, who can now upgrade to the Enhanced version. Is this the beginning of the end for the last-gen iterations of the game?

This announcement from Rockstar coincides with a major update for GTA Online set to launch this July, featuring The Kortz Center Heist. Players will need to gear up for this, which includes adding an art studio to their mansions, all while enjoying a slew of in-game discounts and rewards. It seems Rockstar is keen to transition players to the more modern versions of this 13-year-old title by eliminating upgrade fees and making the process seamless.

Initially, there was a brief window where you could upgrade for $10 after the current-gen versions launched, but that opportunity closed long ago, and recently, players had to repurchase the game entirely. Thankfully, that frustrating chapter is over! You can now easily transfer your profile between console generations and dive into the visually enhanced and technically superior version of GTA Online without spending an extra dime. The same applies to moving from GTA V Legacy to GTA V Enhanced on PC, a transition Rockstar has been encouraging since it removed the former from Steam years ago.

However, this move does hint that support for the PS4, Xbox One, and Legacy versions of GTA Online may soon be winding down. The decision to waive upgrade fees likely isn’t just a generous gesture; it suggests a strategic push to phase out support for these aging consoles. Following the anticipated launch of GTA 6 in November, some speculate that early next year, once the initial excitement settles, Rockstar may announce the discontinuation of these older versions of GTA V. Long-time players who have stuck with the older consoles might not take this news lightly.

Naturally, any announcement from Rockstar sends the fanbase into a frenzy, with many convinced that it signals imminent news about GTA 6. Expect another wave of speculation regarding pre-orders or a new trailer to flood the community, while Rockstar remains coolly detached from the chaos.